A Chair for My Mother: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner (Reading Rainbow Books)
#1 in The Rosa Books Series
on Goodreads (26,079)
What’s inside...
Daughter, mother and grandmother all share the dream of saving enough coins to buy a new chair to replace the one that burned up during a disastrous housefire. This classic and heartwarming picture book was written and illustrated by the celebrated Vera B. Williams and was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association.
Discussion points
What do you think are the most important things that the family saved for? Why?
How did the community help the family after the fire? Why is it important to help others?
Why was the chair so special to the mother and the family?
How did you feel when the family finally bought the chair? What does this tell us about patience and saving?
What would you save for if you had a jar like Rosa? What is important to you?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the family's journey and relate it to any personal experiences of saving or waiting for something special.
Discuss the importance of community support and ask your child about times they helped someone or were helped.
Highlight the values of patience and diligence shown by the family when saving coins for the chair.
Use the illustrations in the book to discuss how colors and images convey the emotions of the characters.
Ask your child to imagine what other items the family might save for next, encouraging creative thinking and future planning.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Saving
Explanation: The protagonist, along with her mother and grandmother, saves coins to buy a comfortable chair after losing their belongings in a fire. This demonstrates the importance of saving for specific goals.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to save money from their allowances or gifts for things they desire, understanding the importance of patience and prudent financial planning.
Example Lesson: Resilience in Adversity
Explanation: The family faces a tough situation when their home is destroyed by fire, yet they focus on rebuilding their life together. This highlights resilience and maintaining hope during challenging times.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to stay positive and work through personal challenges, whether they're related to school, friendships, or extracurricular activities.
Example Lesson: The Power of Teamwork
Explanation: The family's collective effort in saving and searching for the perfect chair exemplifies teamwork and how collaborative efforts can lead to achieving goals.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply teamwork in group projects in school or in team sports, learning that cooperation and collaboration can lead to successful outcomes.
Example Lesson: Importance of Family Support
Explanation: Throughout the story, the close-knit bond between the girl, her mother, and her grandmother provides emotional support and stability.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of family relationships and relying on loved ones during times of need, fostering a supportive home environment.